Discriminant of a quadratic equation

The discriminant of a quadratic equation in the form ax² + bx + c = 0 is the value of the expression b² - 4ac.

The value of the discriminant determines if the quadratic equation has real or complex numbers solutions.

Case #1:

The value of the discriminant is bigger than 0: b² - 4ac > 0

If the value of the discriminant is bigger than 0, then the quadratic equation has two real solutions and the graph of the related function has two x-intercepts.

The x-intercepts of f(x) = ax² + bx + c  are the solutions of ax² + bx + c = 0.

The figure below shows what the graph looks like with two x-intercepts.

Case #2:

The value of the discriminant is equal to 0: b² - 4ac = 0

If the value of the discriminant is equal to 0, then the quadratic equation has one real solution and the graph of the related function has one x-intercept.

The x-intercepts of f(x) = ax² + bx + c  are the solutions of ax² + bx + c = 0.

The figure below shows what the graph looks like with one x-intercept.

Case #3:

The value of the discriminant is smaller than 0: b² - 4ac < 0

If the value of the discriminant is smaller than 0, then the quadratic equation has no real solution, but two imaginary solutions instead. The graph of the related function has no x-intercept. 

The figure below shows what the graph looks like with no x-intercept.

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